POLICE BEAT

Bangor area transient arrested on drug charge, woman hospitalized

BANGOR, Maine — Bangor police were called to an area near the Hope House on Indiana Avenue on Monday evening and found a local transient who has a long criminal history standing near a woman who appeared to be intoxicated or heavily drugged.

“The female was passed out and unresponsive,” said Lt. Jeff Millard.

Christopher W. Hardison, 27, was found with diverted Seroquel, a medicine used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and was arrested and charged with possession of scheduled drugs. The 31-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, Millard said.

Both Hardison and the woman list their address as the Hope House, a shelter for people struggling with drugs and alcohol.

In the last four years, Hardison has been convicted of assault, burglary, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, false public alarm or report, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, according to court listings in the Bangor Daily News.

Hardison was taken to Penobscot County Jail and he remained there Tuesday evening, a jail official said. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)